Streaming traffic classification method and apparatus

Abstract

In a method of classifying streaming media data, one or more media servers are identified. In response, the media servers are added to a list of media servers. It is determined that one or more messages sent by one or more clients are sent to a first media server included on the list of media servers. In response, the one or more clients are added to a list of clients that is associated with the first media server. It is determined that a request for streaming media is sent to the first media server by a first client included on the list of clients. In response, a rule to determine whether subsequent traffic between the first media server and the first client is utilized. Data packets within the subsequent traffic are classified as high priority when the data packets satisfy the rule.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 939,324 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,821), entitled “Streaming Traffic Classification Method and Apparatus” and filed on Nov. 13, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 867,280, entitled “Video Traffic Classification Mechanism” and filed on Nov. 27, 2006. The disclosures of the above-identified patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY[0002]The present invention relates generally to classifying communications data being sent from one device to another so that streamed data can be handled differently than other types of data.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]An ever-increasing amount of data is being transmitted between computers and other devices over communications pathways such as the Internet, other public communication networks, and private communications networks. Much of the increase ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For instance, the nature of streaming media data is that potentially large amounts of data need to be sent from the transmitting device or computer to the receiving device or computer without having a certain amount of data lost and / or without much delay between portions of the data.

For example, lost video data or delays between received portions of video data may cause significant degradation of the video during playback.

Techniques that use only a best effort attempt at delivering the streaming media data are not sufficient for the future development of multimedia networks.

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